Top Ten Best Automatic Bikes you can Buy in 2023

There are currently about 30 models in the US auto market with manual transmissions. The list gets shorter every year, and while things aren’t all that bad for motorcycles in the U.S. or elsewhere in 2023, change is on the horizon. Major manufacturers have recognized that learning to shift is a barrier to attracting new riders. However, automatic gearboxes on new bikes have not yet been widely accepted, mainly because motorcyclists enjoy lining up their gears. A motorcycle without a clutch or shifter is infinitely more attractive to novice riders or people with physical limitations. So, here is the list of the Top Ten Best Automatic Bikes you can Buy in 2023.

Top Ten Best Automatic Bikes you can Buy in 2023 – Top Rated

2023 Honda Gold Wing Automatic DCT | Starting at $25,600

Honda’s decision to equip its top-of-the-line luxury tourer with various amenities, including an auto-shift option, makes perfect sense. Three of the four Gold Wing trims, including the entry-level “Bagger” Wing (no trunk) and the extensively customized Gold Wing Tour Airbag DCT ($32,900), will offer the seven-speed DCT that initially offered the 2019 model. (edited) debuted on to link with the IMU).

Even without the bigger trunk, better audio, or DCT, the Wing is still one of the most capable tourers. In 2021, the Wing underwent a series of minor changes that once again guaranteed its place on Cycle World’s 2022 Ten Best List (Best Touring Bike).

2023 Honda Africa Twin DCT | Starting at $15,299

The next model on our list is a full ADV bike, which shows that Honda has cornered the automatic market. You must also believe that Big Red has cast a vast net. The Africa Twin offers tasty features like the durable 1,084cc Unicam engine, more than 9 inches of suspension forward travel, and a substantial 5-gallon fuel capacity. Not that the Africa Twin isn’t a great adventure rig even without the DCT, so giving riders the option to focus on the front end rather than the shift and clutch levers might seem like a smart move. It is the standard DCT model only; If you opt for the Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES DCT, you’ll get more comfort thanks to additions like a larger 6.5-gallon fuel tank, tubeless tires, electronic suspension, and a taller windshield.

2023 Honda Rebel 1100T DCT | $11,299 (base)

Since when are automatic bikes from other manufacturers? Although Kawasaki reportedly works on a semi-auto gearbox and BMW has the pricier C 400 GT scooter with a CVT, the options are minimal.

Coming back to Honda, it launched the clutchless Rebel 1100 Cruiser in 2020 as well as the light touring 1100T DCT this year. Every time we’ve taken on the biggest Rebel, we’ve been in awe of the amount of technology and readily available power that the Africa Twin’s Unicam engine has channeled into this comfortable cruiser. Power can be adjusted, and both cruise and traction control are standard.

2023 Honda NC750X DCT | $9,399

Given its 4.7 inches of travel up front, Honda has placed the NC750X DCT in its adventure category, which seems a bit out of place for being a standard-style, versatile commuter. The NC750X is positioned as a “practical” motorcycle, which isn’t a bad thing if you’re looking for great fuel efficiency and smooth, predictable performance. It is powered by the company’s dead-reliable liquid-cooled 745cc parallel-twin engine.

However, it’s not even a slug; In fact, the DCT gearbox adds superbly to the engine’s torquey, instantly revving character.

2023 LiveWire One | $22,799

We decided to replace the Honda motif with some American muscle. Yes, the LiveWire One only has one gear because a permanent magnet electric motor powers it, but you can drive with it and shift into reverse because it doesn’t need a clutch or shift lever. (Also, the all-new S2 Del Mar isn’t available yet.)

The good news is that the sporty but roadster-like One model has a decent seat height, a light-cast aluminum frame, 100 horsepower from the Revelation motor, and a claimed city range of 145 miles with a claimed charge time of 60 minutes on a DC fast charger (your results may vary for all of the above).

2023 Honda Trail125 | $3,999

We decided to smuggle in another non-automatic bike because we’re already violating the list criteria by including the Honda Trail, which is classified as semi-automatic. We had to find a place for The Trail because it’s traditionally bare-bones cool. It should come as no surprise that it’s a Honda, and the fact that it’s modeled after the iconic Trail 90 and Trail 110 bikes of the past will surely make a certain breed of bikers smile. The Trail 125 will get the same efficient, quiet, fuel-efficient, and long-lasting 124cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine that the Supercube got in 2022 for 2023. It still features the popular no-clutch semi-automatic gearbox, a frame with a lower step-over height and an integrated luggage rack, just like the original models.

2023 Honda Navi | $1,807

Here’s another small-bore choice: the Honda Navi. We opened the door. It’s another Honda, and the Navi has a single-cylinder pocket bike, minibike, or minimoto with good physical presence but also has a CVT gearbox. That means there’s no clutch to drive, no need to shift, and no neutral — just turn it on and go.

The Navi is incredibly fuel efficient (Honda claims over 100 mpg) and makes more than enough power for its intended use thanks to a reliable 109cc single overhead cam design that’s simple to drive. The air is cold.

2023 Suzuki Burgman | $8,599

The full-size Bergman scooter from Suzuki has been receiving rave reviews for years, which is one of the reasons why we’re including it in the list. The Buggy’s spirited firepower has long dazzled owners and competitors alike, and with a top speed of 90 mph from the fuel-injected 400cc liquid-cooled single, you’ll keep up with most of your moto buddies in town. I will be able to and then some.

Engine power is delivered to a fully automatic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) system, which provides smooth, linear power without the need to shift beyond expected acceleration at any speed.

2023 Can-Am Ryker | $8,999 (base)

By adding another non-motorcycle, we’ll continue to push the envelope, but Can-Am’s entry-level Ryker isn’t a trike — trikes have two wheels in the back and one on top. However, it’s as close to a motorcycle as the Bergman, and like the Bergie, it has a fully automatic CVT gearbox, so you can just turn it.

Surprisingly, this basic three-wheeler, with a starting price of $8,999, is almost as expensive as a Bergman. Two engine options are available for the Ryker: an 899cc triple with 77 hp or a 600cc parallel twin with 47 hp. However, a fully automatic continuously variable gearbox (CVT) that shortens the learning curve for novice riders is the main draw. When the rider presses the accelerator, the CVT takes care of the rest, leaving him to focus.

2023 Polaris Slingshot S | $23,349 (base, w/ auto transmission)

There’s a case to be made for including the Slingshot on this list, but we’ve got a lot of hate mail that says it’s not a motorcycle. For starters, the entry-level three-wheeler is available with the Polaris Auto Drive gearbox, which changes ratios automatically without needing a clutch. You can still line up your gears using the paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Another advantage is that the open-air cockpit, to a certain extent, replicates the feeling of riding a motorcycle outdoors, especially since the base S model does not include a windscreen as standard equipment.

Top Ten Best Automatic Bikes you can Buy in 2023 – Top List